FALL '25 MEDI-EDITION

Weighing in on Two Popular Body Reshaping Treatments: 

Comparing EmSculpt neo® to Coolsculpting® Elite Fat Freezing

You watch what you eat, and you exercise. But you still might be stuck.

There still might be one area of your body that you want to tone or contour but just can’t target effectively. Most of us know the feeling. That’s why we want to shed some light on two popular body reshaping treatments.

The medical spa consultants and technicians at Euphoria Wellness Spa in Peterborough trust both EmSculpt Neo® and Coolsculpting® Elite Fat Freezing to provide results. Each therapy is completely different. Here’s the skinny on each, including side-by-side comparisons.

EMSCULPT NEO

What is it?
It’s a non-invasive treatment that combines two technologies which work in synch to reduce fat and build muscle.

Why is it used?
EmSculpt Neo® is used by clients who want targeted body toning results – and want to avoid plastic surgery. It’s also important to note that EmSculpt Neo has additional therapeutic uses to treat pain and/or injury.

EmSculpt Neo® addresses toning and fat loss at the same time. It targets both subcutaneous and visceral fat.

EmSculpt Neo® also has a functional feature where it can also be used to treat injury, and/or build and repair muscle while reducing pain in areas such as shoulders, elbows, knees, glutes, hamstrings, calves and feet.  

It can also be used with clients who want to build a stronger core for stability.

EmSculpt (without the newer “Neo” attributes) was developed using high-intensity focused electromagnetic treatments – o r HIFEM. Cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2017, HIFEM was first used for body contouring in 2018. BTL Medical Technology is the developer and patent-owner of EmSculpt.

How does it work?
With BTL’s EmSculpt Neo® (launched in 2020), clients get two therapies in a single procedure. That’s because radiofrequency (RF) energy has been added to the electromagnetic field treatment (HIFEM).

As two therapies in one, EmSculpt Neo® can eliminate and remove fat cells from the body, while also causing muscle growth through intense muscle contractions.

Clinical studies have shown an average of 30% reduction in subcutaneous fat and a 25% increase in muscle thickness with EmSculpt Neo®.

What you can expect.
EmSculpt Neo® is not painful.

You will feel muscle contractions (of the optimal toning “supramaximal” variety) in the area being treated. Amazingly, about 24,000 tiny pulses can be delivered in a 30-minute treatment session.

You’ll also feel some heat. This sensation has been compared to the heat from the stones used in a hot stone massage. The energy levels on the treatment device can be adjusted if you find anything too intense. 

Treatments can be performed in 30 minutes or less at Euphoria’s medical spa in Peterborough.

You may feel some stiffness the next day, like what you might feel the day after training in the gym. But typically, there’s no downtime after an EmSculpt Neo treatment.

Are you a good candidate for EmSculpt Neo®?
Do you have stubborn areas you want to sculpt and define? Or do you want to build a stronger core, or treat pain and/or injury?

EmSculpt Neo® shows optimal results for clients with a stable weight and a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or lower. (Those within 15-20 pounds of their ideal weight.)

A free consultation with a Euphoria medical spa technician is required first. (Note: EmSculpt Neo® is not recommended for those with metal implants, pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, drug pumps, or metal IUDs. Also, it is not recommended for those who are pregnant or breast feeding.)

For the best results, you should follow a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise in between, and return every 1-3 months for EmSculpt Neo® treatments.

COOLSCULPTING® ELITE Fat Freezing

What is it?
It’s a popular medical spa treatment that helps contour stubborn fat loss areas by freezing and eliminating unwanted fat cells.

Why is it used?
CoolSculpting Elite is used by clients who want a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. It can be used for devolumizing or debulking, as well as targeting specific pockets of fat.

Its patented “cryolipolysis” technology can reduce fat bulges in the upper arm, back, abdomen, waist and flank, as well as on the chin and neck areas.

CoolSculpting received its FDA clearance in 2009, initially approved for treating the flank area and “love handles”. Zeltiq Aesthetics patented the cryolipolysis technology (now under Allergan Aesthetics).

How does it work?
It all began with flavoured ice on a stick.

In the 1970s, two groundbreaking researchers from Harvard discovered the “popsicle effect” – a phenomenon where children who frequently ate popsicles developed dimples in their cheeks due to cold-induced fat loss.  Further research and collaboration on many fronts over the following decades perfected the process of cryolipolysis for the targeted loss of body fat.

With CoolSculpting Elite, many different sizes of treatment paddle-like applicators can be used. The size of applicator depends on the on the area being targeted. Once the targeted cells are frozen, the body's immune system removes the dead fat cells naturally. This leads to a reduction in the fat layer.

Euphoria’s medical spa technicians can target stubborn areas, like fat under the chin, which can be difficult to eliminate through diet and exercise.

What you can expect.
CoolSculpting Elite provides a suction and cooling feeling to the skin directly around the fat cells being targeted. Clients have described this as intense cold and tugging at first that becomes a numb feeling within a few minutes.

The device has built-in safety measures with sensors. If the skin is getting too cold, the CoolSculpting Elite system shuts down automatically.

Treatments generally take from 35 minutes to 2 hours, in which time you can sit back, sip a Starbucks® and watch a movie.

Studies have shown that the CoolSculpting Elite Fat Freezing process can destroy about 10-25% of fat in the treatment area.

Redness may appear on the skin areas being treated. For this reason, if your chin or neck is being treated, you may wish to schedule your treatments when you can head home afterwards. In general, you can return to most normal activities following your Euphoria medical-spa visit. 

Are you a good candidate for CoolSculpting Elite?
There is no strict BMI requirement for CoolSculpting Elite. Spa Euphoria medical technicians have found results to be optimal for clients who want to lose volume first and are about 50 pounds heavier than their goal weight. Although it can be used for those with smaller weight loss goals.

A free consultation with a Euphoria medical spa consultant is required in advance to determine if CoolSculpting Elite is for you. (Note: CoolSculpting Elite is not recommended for those who are pregnant, breast feeding or with certain circulatory/medical conditions.) 

Results are gradual and generally take 2-6 months. Plans should include a good margin of downtime between CoolSculpting Elite appointments.

The basics at a glance:

Where each treatment weighs in:
We’ve created an easy chart to highlight the key areas targeted by EmSculpt Neo and CoolSculpting Elite Fat Freezing:

Blog Research from Euphoria Wellness Spa and: A Systematic Review of Electromagnetic Treatments for Body Contouring, BTL Medical Technology, EmSculpt Neo Review, Cryolipolysis for Non-Invasive Body Contouring, Allergan Aesthetics, WebMD CoolSculpting.